Many times, mental disorders do not have to do with hallucinations or the inability to perceive certain things or do certain actions, but are expressed through our social relationships and the way we live them.
This is the case of Dependency Personality Disorderalso known as Dependent Personality Disorder. If we had to explain in a single sentence what it consists of, the explanation would be the following: the habit of transforming our social relationships into straps that tie us down and totally limit our freedom. It is based on the fear of being abandoned by others.
Next we will see what are the characteristics, symptoms, causes and treatments associated with this disorder.
This is a mental disorder characterized by pathological need to maintain close personal relationships that provide protection and care to those who suffer from it. In practice, this translates into adopting habits and attitudes related to submission and extreme dependence.
It is a personality disorder that, according to the diagnostic criteria of the DSM IV manual, belongs to group C, anxious or fearful disorders. This is a category that it shares with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder and Avoidant Personality Disorder.
Regarding its epidemiology, it is believed that this disorder affects approximately 0.5% of the population and it is more common in women than in men.
The main symptoms of Dependent Personality Disorder are the following.
Fear of loneliness
People who have this disorder They fear being defenseless and in a vulnerable situation in which they need help and cannot get it. This causes them to undertake desperate initiatives in order to anticipate isolation, even if this puts them at risk of breaking with certain social conventions (which would take them further away from their objective).
Low self-esteem
Constant dependence on others makes that the self-esteem of these people is very damaged. This makes them seek to “complete” themselves thanks to the presence of other people, since they feel that they cannot face life alone.
Extreme indecision
People with Dependent Personality Disorder adopt an extremely passive attitude and they avoid having to make decisions, even if they are banal and of little importance. They always try to let others decide.
Pessimism about your own abilities
These individuals tend to believing that they are incapable of performing the most basic actions and that they will fail in any project they propose; That is why they need to be in contact with someone by whose side it is possible to survive.
Constant search for relationships
How to needs uninterrupted protectionthese people are always looking for new relationships when old ones break up. Time spent without someone’s protection is seen as a danger, something that can mean receiving harm or reaching situations in which one’s integrity is compromised.
Very low assertiveness
To people with this personality disorder it is very difficult for them to disagree with certain ideas, norms or opinions.
Always looking for the presence of someone who can be counted on as a protective agent.
Causes
It is estimated that it is a disorder with high heritability (about 80% of the variance). However, it is not well known what part of this heritability is due to genetics and what has to do with the environments shared with parents.
In any case, the person who detects cases of Dependent Personality Disorder must be a mental health professional, and the diagnosis must be entirely their responsibility.
Subtypes of Dependent Personality Disorder
A classification has been proposed with different subtypes of Dependent Personality Disorder, to take into account the symptoms in more detail. They are the following.
Disinterested
People who “abandon themselves” entirely to the other person and forget their interests beyond the need for protection and guidance. He has masochistic traits.
Ineffective
It is characterized by a fear of facing any type of problem and by extreme passivity.
Accommodating
A profile that is clearly anxious and that structures its life around submission to another person. He appears docile, accommodating and dedicated.
Immature
With characteristics linked to innocence and childishness, it fundamentally stands out for its gullibility and incompetence when it comes to carrying out simple tasks for adult standards.
Restless
A profile that expresses distrust and constant fear, avoids any type of problem and avoids relationships with people who are not “the protective figure.”
Treatments
Dependency Personality Disorder is based on very persistent mental and behavioral habits that remain present all the time, and it is very difficult to make its symptoms subside.
In this sense, cognitive behavioral therapy can be effective to improve self-esteem and to combat the symptoms of depressiona disorder that is frequently associated with it. Additionally, through this form of psychotherapy, social skills and routines are trained to combat anxiety and fear.
On the other hand, the use of psychotropic drugs It is usually aimed at intervening on the symptoms derived from anxiety and depression, although always with a medical prescription and with exhaustive monitoring.
